A Redundant term for an Existent Phenomenon

Reverse Racism exists. Get over it.

[Sanity Sunday]- How I feel in my daily life

To begin, it is essential to define race. Race, as defined by Merriam Webster dictionary is a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits. By this definition alone, we may infer that in a broad sense, all Asians belong to a single race, all Afro descendants belong to a race, and all Caucasians belong to a race. We may also interpret race as different ethnicities. The inhabitants of west Africa have distinguishing physical traits that set them apart from those of east African descent. Using this reasoning, I, being of Somali descent, may consider myself a different race than those of Kenyan descent primarily because we have (while similar) divergent physical features.

On regards to racism, with no perturbation, I can aptly state that it exists. A common occurrence and almost custom in the United States, every able citizen would be able to tell you that yes, racism does exist, and yes, it is a mar on both our judicial and legislative history. But if I were to ask almost every supposed ‘woke’ being of my native Saint Paul if they believed reverse racism existed, I would be met by red ears and bared teeth, emotionally berated and perhaps even physically assaulted. Racism by definition is the prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. It is only logical by its definition alone to assume that racism is able to be committed by members of all races. Is it so irrational to believe that a black man may feel superiority towards a white man? That he himself may feel that the black race, the original race of man, is superior to the white race? Would that not constitute as racism by its definition? While those of us with intelligence will say yes, that is racism, there are sadly very few individuals in my life with that level of common sense. Racism is racism, who it is perpetrated by does not change its definition. Whether systematic or individualized, racism exists and can be effectuated by blacks and other minorities.

What if I told you that the moon was pink. That the sky was red and the ground is actually blue. What if I told you that humans aren’t humans, that we’re all actually lions is disguise. You’d probably think I’m some heroin user or Fox News reporter. But in all honesty, I’m just someone who believes what I want to believe in, I’m someone who makes my own definitions and own facts about life. If I want to believe that JFK’s is still alive in Sweden golfing with Adolf Hitler, it’s what I believe. If I want to make up my own definition of racism, then that’s what I’m going to do.

This is the mentality of people I’d like to call idiots.

They make up definitions of words and expect everyone else in society to follow it because they’re supposed social justice warriors.

The definition of racism is nonnegotiable. If we all made up our own definition of a word, the English class I’m writing this essay for would be nonexistent, as would the ability to communicate itself.

A common definition those on the opposing side of this argument use is that the definition of racism is when a majority of a nation practices discrimination to the minority. This my readers, is not the definition of racism. As stated above, racism is when ANY inclined person believes that their race is superior to another, regardless of class. I can believe blacks are superior to others but because I’m black and not white, I’m somehow not racist. This double standard is what is defined as privilege. A black man has the privilege to be as racist and derogatory to any Anglo Saxon within his path and not be berated as custom to a white man doing a similar action. But privilege is an entirely different argument in itself. Another common argument is that white people created racism. white people did not create racism, they like any other race just indulge in it; it’s what I define as a human trait. Since biblical times racism has been a universal factor. The Egyptians and the Israelis, the Saudis and Africans, the Chinese and Anglo Saxons, racism has been both perpetuated and institutionalized by both Black and Whites throughout history.

reddit/reverse racism exists

When these so called activists preach their doctrine, they look only to the United States for their example. They claim that blacks can not be racist to whites because they are systematically discriminated against so broadly in our courts. They neglect the rest of the world in their arguments, forgetting the racism that inlays those in Africa. Zimbabwe, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Nigeria, all majority black, and all having the anti white, anti American seed sowed within them. They routinely oppress and harass those with shreds of Anglo Saxon within their blood, systematically and individually degrading them. When Americans think of racism, they think of white overlords enforcing Jim Crow, throwing Blacks in prison for petty offenses, and Michael Brown. While these are all horrendous truths in our nation, Americans are single minded in their conception of racism. They refuse to look at the disabled white man who just a few weeks ago was brutally tortured by four black supremacists for being white in Illinois. According to the most recent FBI hate crime statistics, there were 613 white-related hate crimes out of 5,850 total cases. While a relatively small percentage of 10.8% compared to the black-related hate crimes standing at 30%, racism towards whites should be dealt just as severely as racism towards blacks. One race does not supersede another, and by allowing one to get away with what is clearly unacceptable when committed by the other, is letting hate and bigotry win in both our hearts and minds.

According to the University of Calgary, Anti Racist Education, Systemic Racism includes the policies and practices entrenched in established institutions, which result in the exclusion or promotion of designated groups. It differs from overt discrimination in that no individual intent is necessary. (Toronto Mayor’s Committee on Community and Race Relations. Race Relations. Myths and Facts) Structural racism: inequalities rooted in the system-wide operation of a society that excludes substantial numbers of members of particular groups from significant participation in major social institutions.” (Henry & Tator, 2006, p. 352) While in the white-dominated, white-washed culture that is the United States, it is hard pressed to find an example of blacks or other minorities committing systematic and structural racism. In Kenya, Somali refugees are treated like lepers and lion fish. Routinely abused and attacked, they face both systematic and individualized racism. On February 4, 2016, Human Rights Watch conducted an investigation on alleged institutional racism towards Somalis in Kenya. An unnamed woman in Eastleigh, Nairobi recounted her rape, assault, and abduction by Nairobi police.

I was walking home on 4th Street when three RP [Regular Police] officers — one woman and two men — stopped me. I showed them my refugee documents and they just attacked me. The woman grabbed my breasts and shoulders and tried to lift my veil and then pushed me into a ditch by the roadside. Then all three hit and kicked me and tore at my clothes. The woman was shouting ‘you are a prostitute’ and ‘you Somalis are all Al-Shabaab and terrorists.’ Then they put me in their car and we drove off. It was dark so I did not know where we were. When we stopped, the woman and one of the men got out of the car and left me in the car with the other man who hit my legs with his truncheon and slapped me. Then he raped me. When he finished he got out of the car and the other man got in and raped me. When it was over, they drove me for some time and then shouted at me to get out of the car. Then they just drove away.

Human Rights Watch interview with 34-year-old Somali woman living with her four children in Eastleigh since 2008, Eastleigh, Nairobi, February 4, 2013.

In their search for the truth, they also made contact with another Somali woman of the same province. Her story is similar, Kenyan police forces abducted her and others for her ethnicity.

The evening of November 19, around 6 p.m. [a day after the Eastleigh bus bombing that killed at least seven people] I went to the mosque. I left my 12-year-old daughter at home. When I got back to my apartment, I saw many GSU [police] officers with batons. I rushed up the stairs and saw the front door was open. My daughter later told me the police had kicked it down and asked her for our jewelry. There were five officers. My daughter rushed towards me, crying, but one of the officers grabbed her and threw her down the stairs. One of the other officers grabbed me by the arms and another kicked me. Then both grabbed me and threw me down the stairs too and my hijab [veil] came undone. The officers picked us up and tossed us like bundled goods into their truck. We drove through town and they picked up many more Somalis, near the mosque and in the streets, until the truck was full. They drove us to the Pangani police station and said anyone who wanted to leave should pay and that anyone who refused would be taken into the police station. A man and his wife offered Ksh 15,000 (US$ 181) to have all four of us released. The police agreed but said, ‘If we release you now, other police will arrest you again,’ so they kept us in the truck for six hours, until midnight. Then they just let us go.

Human Rights Watch interview with Somali woman in Eastleigh, Nairobi,

February 4, 2013

In China, racism is bred within their culture. A New York Times reporttitled Asian Racism: Cold Truths are beginning to surface, revealed that hundreds of African students in China have reported ingrained racism. Dutch anthropologist Frank Dikotter destroyed the western myth that China is free from racism in his critically acclaimed novel, The Discourse in China. He writes about how abominable the Chinese view those of both European and African descent. Blacks were defined in early times as being uglier than animals, on par with demons. An old Chinese poem read, “ Yellow and white are wise, red and black are stupid.” According to Chinese legend itself, the human race was created by a godly potter who left clay too long in his kiln. The first one came out too late, black and burnt, and was thrown across the world into Africa in disgust. The second one came out too early and was white. This creation was also thrown but less further away. The third being that came out was a beautiful yellow, becoming the ultimate race of man. Asians, a distinct minority in western civilization are capable of being racist. So why is it that some believe that they are unable to be racist?

AFP/ A restaurant at a popular tourist destination in the Houhai district of Beijing, China.

When we look only at the United States as our pinnacle of society, we lose focus on what happens in the rest of the world. It’s hard to find a systemically racist black in America, but easy to find one in Kenya. Racism is universal and holds no land nor color restrictions.

Those who still fight for the concept of reverse racism somehow believe that the minority in a specific community can not be racist. While those of weak intellect and will believe this to be true, it doesn’t matter where you are or who you are, every race whether it be Asian, African, or White, are physically capable of being racist. Racism is a human trait, not an animal without the ability to cross over lands. If a former Kenyan police officer who is undoubtedly racist to Somalis comes to the United States and verbally assaults one, is that not racism? The entire reverse racism debate is centered upon the theory that minorities in any community can not be racist to the majority. Did that Kenyan Police officer who once assaulted and demeaned Somalis somehow lose the ability to be racist once he stepped on American soil? The ability to be racism is psychological, not physical. It can not be adjusted or abolished once one moves to a nation where he or she is a minority.

reverse racism is a redundant and unnecessary term because reverse racism fits within the definition of racism.

This issue should be a matter of common sense, not a debatable social construct. There are many who after reading this would still be stuck in their ways, still stuck in their self-oppressive mindsets. They define racism on their own terms, completely disregarding both common sense and the English language. They look towards the United States as their argument to defend their own bigotry and hide behind social correctness. This is the mindset that nearly eradicated Native Americans in colonial America, a product of manifest destiny (white superiority) leading to their mass eviction and dissemination. It opens the pathway to imperialism and oppression when one race is allowed such privilege over another. Racism is racism no matter what it’s cloaked in and who’s wearing it.

Sources:

Henry, F., & Tator, C. (Eds.). (2009). Racism in the Canadian university demanding social justice, inclusion, and equity. Toronto, ON, Canada: University of Toronto Press.